The Ministry of Environment today (26 June) held the prize-presentation ceremony for the 9th National Environmental Education Awards, the so-called the “Oscars” of environmental education in Taiwan, at the Ministry of Environment multifunctional conference hall. The Dapu Community Development Association of Gukeng Township and Director Ping-Hsin Chiang of the Beixi Community Development Association of Huwei Township recommended by the Yunlin County Government stood out from all the contestants in Taiwan to win the excellence award in the community category and the excellence award in the individual category.
The award-winning Dapu Community Development Association of Gukeng Township building the co-existence concept of “life, production, and ecology” based on the community development vision of environmental sustainability has been actively promoting economic development and implementing environmental education in the community over the years. Through organizing the Bamboo Sprout Festival and various festivities, Dapu Community Development Association promotes community culture and industries. With local materials it develops DIY activities, designs environmental education lesson plans for the four seasons, and promotes low-carbon sustainable tourism. The “Bamboo Tribe” has established promotes the heritage and revitalization of bamboo art and builds the ecological education park and establishes the ecological web to engage in the restoration of the Formosan Nanhai crab (Nanhaipotamon formosanum) and fireflies. The award-winner Ping-Hsin Chiang is currently the director of the Beixi Community Development Association of Huwei Township. As the key opinion leader and promoter of Beixi Community, Chiang began actively promoting environmental education in 2013. Out of a love for hometown, Chiang upholds passion and never forgets its original intention to make selfless devotion. By building community cohesion through organizing a community volunteer team, he leads the community to complete the rural culture inventory and build the Beixi Papercutting Art Village; promotes the installation of water-efficient facilities in the community; tidies up various shabby spaces in the community; and develops the Beixi Have Fun Ecological Park, Mental Riches Garden, and Good Morning, Beixi. Through various experiential courses (farming experience, agricultural waste reuse, etc.), he implants environmental education in the minds of people. By organizing the Beixi Corn Festival, he advertises local culture and local industry and creates the “Green Flying Fish” brand.
Yunlin Magistrate Li-Shan Chang states that she would thank all award-winners for their selfless devotion to and long-term promotion of environmental education. She also hopes that this power expands outwards to motivate more people to join and devote themselves to environmental education. With or without any awards, all efforts will never be in vain but will become the seeds of environmental education ingraining in children and nourishing more fruitful results. Additionally, the 10th National Environmental Education Awards will take place next April. Groups, private businesses, schools, agencies and institutions, communities, and individuals are welcome to sign up for awards to rally for the highest honor in environmental education for Yunlin.
Director Qiao-Wei Zhang of the Environmental Protection Bureau also expressed his gratitude to all units for facilitating the implementation of environmental education. As everybody is making efforts for a better sustainable future, the Bureau will also spare no effort in collaborating with all environmental education partners to work for environmental education in Yunlin County.
